Stretching Boundaries: Nurses’ Perceptions on Job Demands and Resources in Hospital Float Pools

Background: Float pools are increasingly used in healthcare to enhance staffing flexibility and efficiency. However, the impact of floating on nurses remains underexplored. Challenges may include adjusting to different ward routines and limited team integration.

Aim: To explore the perceived demands and resources associated with hospital float pool work, comparing experiences of nurses in intraorganizational pools with expectations of those preparing for interorganizational floating.

Methods: This qualitative study, guided by the job demands–resources (JD-R) model, involved semistructured interviews with 27 nurses across five Dutch hospitals. Participants included nurses currently working in intraorganizational float pools and those anticipating working in a float pool across organizations.

Results: Nurses in intraorganizational float pools generally reported job satisfaction, experiencing minor demands such as limited team acceptance. Learning opportunities and variation in tasks were key resources. Effective coping was supported by openness, confidence, and communication skills. In contrast, nurses not yet deployed but are anticipating interorganizational floating expected greater demands, including adapting to varying protocols and working across multiple hospital cultures. They emphasized the need for extrinsic resources such as rewards and described personal challenges such as time management and a preference for routine.

Conclusion: Interorganizational floating is perceived as more demanding than intraorganizational float pool work. However, experienced nurses often reframe demands as manageable. Findings highlight the importance of a person-centered float pool design that aligns with individual characteristics and support needs. Tailoring float pool policies may enhance job satisfaction, reduce burnout, and support retention among floating nurses.